EAST BAY CONSORTIUM

Step 5: Completing the Application

1. Allow yourself sufficient time to fill out the application form. A "rush job" results in careless errors. Work in a quiet place alone, where you can give the job the consideration it deserves.

2. Read all directions carefully, before you start, and follow them accurately. Make a copy of the blank application and use it as a rough draft.

3. Read all questions on the form and think about your answers before you begin to write.

4. Write all answers to essay questions on scratch paper first. Ask your English teacher to proofread your rough draft before writing it on the application form.

5. Make your answers truthful, specific and concise. Make sure to answer the question.

6. If possible, type your application. The appearance of your application will influence the Admissions Committee.
If you write your application, print it legibly and use blank ink preferably. Use "White Out" to correct mistakes.

7. Plan your use of page space. If a small space is provided for a long answer, use the space above and below the line, but keep all the writing the same size; OR write "see attached sheet" in the space and write your answer on a separate page.

8. Avoid errors. Use a dictionary to avoid spelling errors. Do not cross out or have inkblots on your application, many colleges will not send second application forms.

9. Answer all questions. Do not leave blank spaces. If a question does not apply to you, place a dash (-), N/A (not applicable) or zero (0) in the blank (regarding to financial questions).

10. Make sure you keep track of your test scores. You are responsible for making sure that the testing agencies (College Board or ACT) report your test scores directly to the Admissions Office at each college to which you apply.

11. If an application fee is required, enclose a check or money order with your application. Write your name and social security number on your check or money order. If you cannot afford the fee, find out if the college accepts fee waivers. You may obtain fee waivers from your counselor. See your counselor well ahead of the deadline.

12. Ask someone to double-check your application for possible errors.

13. Be sure to sign your application. Without your signature, your application is not complete and may not be processed. Some applications require your name on every page of the application and essay.

14. Make photocopies of all applications and obtain a "Certificate of Mailing" from the post office, get a receipt with the date on which you mailed the application. Affix adequate postage to the envelope. Do not use certified or registered mail or an overnight express delivery service to send your application. This will delay processing of your application. Keep the copies and certificate receipts all in one safe place, in a folder or file.

15. Mail applications as early as possible during the appropriate filing period.

16. Within four weeks of mailing your application, you should receive acknowledgement that your application form and fees were received. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, call the admissions office and follow-up with your application.

17. If admitted, most colleges will require a final, official high school transcript (showing your date of graduation). You must arrange to have it sent to the Admissions Office where you plan to enroll. Be sure to request your transcript at least three weeks before it is due.

Step 6: Applying for Financial Aid

• Grants, usually based on financial need, are money you don’t have to pay back.
• Scholarships are also free money for college, usually based on your area of study or merit, such as good grades, special talents, heritage or community service.
• Work-study programs let you earn money for college in a job on or off campus.
• Loans are money you borrow that must be repaid with interest.

• Federal Pell Grants are the largest source of free money for college from the government. These need-based grants of between $400 and $4,050 a year are awarded to every undergraduate who qualifies and hasn’t already earned a bachelor’s degree. Pell Grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees and living expenses at any qualifying college, including a California Community College.

• Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), if you’re eligible for a federal Pell Grant, are a U.S. citizen and successfully complete a “rigorous” high school program, you may qualify for an Academic Competitiveness Grant of up to $750 for your first year and up to $1,300 for the second year, in addition to your Pell Grant.

• National SMART Grant provides up to $4,000 for your junior and senior years of college if you’re eligible for a Pell Grant, are a U.S. citizen and are majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, math, technology or engineering, or in certain foreign languages.

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, between $100 and $4,000 a year. Priority is given to students receiving a Pell Grant. They don’t need to be paid back. Unlike federal Pell Grants, funds for these grants are limited, so there’s no guarantee you’ll receive one. Also, keep in mind not all colleges offer them.

• Federal Work-Study allows you to earn a portion of your financial aid package through work. Your college will assist you in locating a part-time job on or off campus, usually related to your studies or career plans, or in community service. You'll earn at least the federal minimum wage.

• Federal Perkins Loans are low-interest loans for students with exceptional financial need. These loans are made by colleges using mostly federal funds and have 0 percent interest during school. You’ll have up to nine months after school before you must start repaying your loan at 5 percent interest. Depending on when you apply, your financial need and available funds, you can borrow up to $4,000 for each year of undergraduate study and up to $6,000 a year if you’re a graduate or professional student. Funding is limited, however, and not all colleges offer these loans.

• Federal Stafford Loans are the most common source of student loan funds and are for undergraduate, graduate, vocational, and professional students at all types of colleges. There are two types of Stafford loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Your FAFSA will establish your eligibility for both. You may receive both types of loans at the same time. The interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent for the life of your loan. After you graduate, leave school or enroll less than half time, you’ll have a six-month grace period before your first loan payment is due. Typically, you’ll have up to 10 years to repay, depending on the amount borrowed. If you’ll be going on to graduate school, you may request an in-school deferment and postpone repayment until you finish graduate school or drop below half-time enrollment.

• Subsidized Stafford Loans are based solely on financial need. The federal government pays the interest while you’re in college and during the six-month grace period after you graduate, leave school or enroll less than half time—you’ll make no loan payments until your grace period ends. To qualify, you must meet all the requirements for federal aid and have your eligibility for a Pell Grant determined.

• Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are for all eligible students, regardless of income or assets. You must meet the same requirements as those for the subsidized Stafford loan, except for demonstrating financial need. You’re responsible for paying all the interest on the loan, but you can defer interest payments while in school. If you do, the interest will be added to the amount you borrowed when repayment begins and future interest will be based on the higher loan amount. It’s to your advantage to pay the interest while you’re in college because you’ll pay less interest in the long run. To learn more, go to www.studentaid.ed.gov
• Federal PLUS Loans (for Parents of dependent students or Graduate Students): Federal Parent PLUS loans enable your parents or stepparents to borrow up to the total cost of your undergraduate study, minus any other aid you may receive. These loans aren’t based on your family’s income or assets. If you’re a graduate or professional student, you can take out a Federal Graduate PLUS loan to borrow up to the total cost of your education, less any other aid you receive, including any federal Stafford loans. To apply for a PLUS loan, you must submit the FAFSA, meet credit eligibility requirements and complete a PLUS loan application. The interest rate for PLUS loans is fixed at 7.9 percent or 8.5 percent, depending on the college. Interest accrues from the date loan funds are first disbursed until the loan is repaid in full. You may also have to pay an origination fee and a federal default fee. For more information, contact your college’s financial aid office.

• There are many other types of financial assistance available from the Federal Government such as aid for Veterans and/or their dependents, loan forgiveness programs, and national service programs like Americorp. To learn more, visit: www.studentaid.ed.gov

• submit the FAFSA and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline
• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (your parents don’t need to be citizens or eligible noncitizens)
• be a California resident when you graduated from high school
• have a Social Security number
• attend a qualifying California college
• not have a bachelor’s or professional degree (except for Cal Grant A and B extended awards)
• have financial need based on your college costs
• have family income and assets below the established ceilings
• meet any minimum GPA requirements
• be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
• be enrolled at least half time
• have registered with U.S. Selective Service (most males)
• not owe a refund on a state or federal grant, or be in default on a student loan

Step 7: Tips on Writing the Personal Essay for College

KEEP YOUR TYPED ESSAY TO LESS THAN TWO PAGES DOUBLE SPACED.

CHOOSE ONE ASPECT OF YOURSELF AS THE MAIN THEME OR FOCUS OF YOUR ESSAY. For example, you may choose to focus on one of the questions below while giving mention to each of the other relevant topics.

LET A PARENT, TEACHER, OR COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE READ YOUR ESSAY TO GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE IT. This way, a trusted adult can tell you whether you should include more information or delete unnecessary ones. Ask them to proofread for grammar. Grammar and spelling mistakes do serious damage to the impression you make.

Below is a list of suggested topics about yourself that you should include in your essay.

What are your goals? Why do you choose these goals? i.e. If you want to be an engineer, what experiences inspired you to want to be an engineer?

Why do you choose to apply to this college? i.e. You may apply to UC Berkeley because they have the best engineering program in the country.

What are your values and philosophy about education? What are the basis for these values? i.e. Do you value education as a way to expose yourself to many experiences? to improve yourself? to gain a skill? to establish a good career?

Is there one or two accomplishment(s), either in school or outside of school that you are particularly proud of? What have you learned from these experience(s)? i.e. sports activities, student government, class projects, work experience, community work, etc.

Have you a system of organization and time-management so that you can succeed both academically and socially? i.e. Have you trained yourself to schedule your time well so that you have time for studying as well as social and recreational activities?

What difficulties or disadvantages have you faced in your life and how have you overcome them? i.e. Are you from a low income family and you had to work? Are you an immigrant and had to overcome language difficulties?

What is one area in which you are weak and how have you or do you plan to overcome that weakness? Do not dwell on this point: keep it very brief.

If you are applying for the educational Opportunity Program (EOP), tell whether you need financial aid and whether either of your parents graduated from college.

DATE

TITLE

INTRODUCTION: Avoid meaningless intros. Get right to the point. Start off immediately to talk about your goals and reasons you want to attend the college.

1ST BODY PARAGRAPH: Should contain the most important idea you want to convey. Should state the main reason that the college should accept you.

2ND BODY PARAGRAPH: Should have smooth transitions between paragraphs. Transitions should tie ideas in each paragraph together into one coherent essay.

3RD BODY PARAGRAPH: After outlining your more important ideas in your previous paragraphs, this is a good place to start putting in relevant details that you have not yet mentioned.

4TH PARAGRAPH: Should tie up loose ends. This is where you should include details necessary to apply for EOP and financial aid.

CONCLUSION: Sum up the main reasons you mentioned of why you should be accepted.